Global Lithium Industry Faces New Challenges and Innovations

The global race for lithium, essential for electric vehicle batteries, is marked by significant developments and challenges. In South Arkansas, ExxonMobil and EnergyX plan major lithium production projects, with ExxonMobil aiming to produce enough for 1 million EV batteries annually by 2030. India struggles with underdeveloped lithium mining and battery technology but is exploring alternatives like metal-air and sodium batteries to reduce reliance on China. American Battery Technology Co. is developing a major lithium project in Nevada, attracting interest from major automakers. Meanwhile, EnBW and LevertonHELM have successfully extracted battery-grade lithium from geothermal water, offering a more sustainable production method. Gradiant has launched alkaLi to extract lithium from brine, aiming to meet the surging demand while mitigating environmental impacts.